Computer Sciences and Information Technology
The Future of Technology
Instructions:
In your final case study, you will analyze five Google technologies that are current under research and development, including the self-driving automobile and four other technologies of your choice. The last chapter of your textbook discusses the search and advertising technologies of Google. While Google is best known for their search and advertising technologies, they also have a multi-billion dollar research and development department that works on cutting edge technologies ranging from self-driving automobiles to renewable energy. For your final case study, you will research 4 technologies (in addition to the self-driving automobile) that Google is currently developing, other than the search, advertising, and Gmail features that we are already familiar with.
Google technologies currently in research and development include:
Self-driving automobile
Project Wing (a drone delivery project)
Google Fiber
Smart Contact Lenses
Google Glass
Project Loon (providing Internet service via balloon)
Home Automation and Smart Thermostats (Google Nest)
Renewable Energy and Sustainability Solutions (Advanced Wind Energy, and several others)
Spend some time Googling and searching online and you will likely discover several other technologies currently being developed by Google.
Here are a couple links to get you started in your research into Google —
Google’s Self-Driving Cars:
http://reason.com/archives/2014/07/28/the-moral-case-for-self-drivin/print
http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2015/09/self-driving-cars-could-save-300000-lives-per-decade-in-america/407956/
http://www.computerworld.com/article/2486635/emerging-technology/self-driving-cars-could-save-more-than-21-700-lives-450b-a-year.html
Google’s Project Wing:
http://www.theverge.com/2014/8/28/6080369/googles-project-wing-is-a-secret-drone-based-delivery-system
Google Fiber:
https://fiber.google.com/about/
Research at Google:
http://research.google.com/
Questions for Discussion:
1. In addition to the self-driving automobile (which everyone will analyze), which other four Google technologies would you like to research for your Final Case Studies?
2. Share one interesting finding with the class about each of the five technologies you will be researching (your four chosen technologies plus the self-driving automobile).
3. Which of these technologies do you think has the greatest potential to improve our society in the future? Why?
Your must post your original post addressing the topics below (minimum of 250 words), prior to 9:00 PM ET on Wednesday.
The Future of Technology
Google is one of the most ambitious companies in the world in terms of technology. Today, the word Google is synonymous to web searches. Still, Google as a company has ambitions to change the world in greater ways through technological advancements (Sjöö & Frishammar, 2019). To that extent, the company started developing devices and there are numerous plans to launch more in the near future. Each of the projects enlists unique features that have the potential to improve the functioning of the society (Zwikael, Chih, & Meredith, 2018). From my perspective, the google self-driven cars have the greatest potential because of the reduction of accidents on the roads.
Google Fiber
Google fiber is one of the key projects under the stewardship of Google. The project is a broadband internet service that is already operation in 18 cities in the United States. The service stands out because of the ability to offer its user’s high internet speeds. At optimum levels, the speeds run up to 1000 Mbps. The subscribers pay friendly monthly rates in an all-inclusive-pricing scheme. The national average speed for fiber connections in the United States is 11.5 Mbps. By offering 1000 Mbps, google fiber has the potential to be the most subscribed internet service in the country. The increased speeds can make work much more efficient and that can spur economic growth. Broadband internet services such as Google fiber utilize a shared network. Therefore, the speeds achieved by one user depend on how much data the neighbour is consuming at the same time. However, the build to support 1000 Mbps by google is high enough to support the activities of all the users will minimal interference.
Google Self Driving Cars
In the year 2010, there were close to 2.23 million injuries from car accidents. Human errors such as driving under the influence of alcohol and aggressive driving are the main cause of the accidents. To that extent, google hopes to introduce self-driven cars to make the streets safer. In developing the cars, google relied heavily on some forms of technology that are already on the road. For instance, the automatic braking system that uses proximity sensors to stop cars. The sensors work hand in hand with the automated steering technology that enables cruise control. The two features are the mainframe work for the self-driven cars.
Google Project Wing
Google project wing is an initiative that seeks to deliver products on demand. The range of goods varies from medicine to burritos from the local restaurants. The project relies on the development of drones that can fly slightly under 500 feet. The current prototypes of the drones have rotors like helicopters and fixed wings like aeroplanes. To avoid the drones from bumping into each other, the inventors have placed sensors and software to detect other devices while they are flying. The project has great potential to deliver essential commodities such as medicine in a timely manner when critically needed.
Google Smart Contact Lenses
The google smart contact lenses are wearable devices with the capability of collecting data from the individual. The aim of the project is to tackle one of the most difficult health problems facing United States, which is diabetes. The smart contact lenses will have the ability to measure the glucose levels from the tears of individuals. The data received goes through a process of analysis and initiates communication on the health status of the individual.
Google Glass
The google glass project entails a voice and motion controls device that takes the form of eyeglasses. The android device utilizes the visual and audio features to provide information that is relevant to the users. For instance, the user can automatically have the flight status briefs upon arrival at the airport.
References
Sjöö, K., & Frishammar, J. (2019). Demonstration projects in sustainable technology: The road to fulfillment of project goals. Journal of Cleaner Production, 228, 331-340.
Zwikael, O., Chih, Y. Y., & Meredith, J. R. (2018). Project benefit management: Setting effective target benefits. International Journal of Project Management, 36(4), 650-658.
